Top 10 fun things to do this winter

I’ll admit that the warm weather months are my favorite here in Northwest Indiana, but there are still great things going at this time of year.

Here are my Top 10 fun things to do this winter:

1. Enjoy the Indiana Dunes. The same great hiking trails you enjoyed this summer are great for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing this winter. And be sure to check out the Arctic-looking mountains of ice that form along the shoreline.

2. Take your movie watching up a notch. Did you know that the only place in Northern Indiana to experience the coolness of an IMAX movie (where the picture and sound surround you) is at Portage 16 IMAX?

3. Visit one of Valparaiso’s amusement centers – Zao Island or Inman’s. At Zao Island, you can enjoy the arcade, laser tag and pizza. At Inman’s, there’s bowling, games, a roller skating rink, air hockey and a children’s bounce house.

5. Watch live, local theatre. Chicago Street Theatre in Valparaiso an Evening with Dan Navarro will feature the artist’s folk music with rock tingle at 7:00 p.m.

6. Create something. Visit Ceramix in Valparaiso to paint your own ceramics or Imagine Beads in Valparaiso to make jewelry.

7. Eat at a restaurant you haven’t tried before. Visit www.indianadunes.com/culinary-tour if you need a suggestion.

8. Visit a local museum. The Alton Goin Museum in Portage highlights that city’s history, while the Porter County Museum has interactive, always-changing exhibits. The Westchester Township History Museum in Chesterton is located in the Brown Mansion, so you get a mansion tour, too.

9. Visit Valparaiso University. Whether you want to attend a holiday concert at the beautiful Chapel of the Resurrection, see the ever-changing exhibits at Brauer Museum of Art or cheer on the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the university welcomes the community.

10. Take a day trip. Did you know that you can drive about an hour and enjoy all Chicago has to offer, or head the other direction and enjoy Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City, the University of Notre Dame or the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend?

For more information about fun things to do this winter and year round, visit www.indianadunes.com or call 219-926-2255 to request Indiana Dunes Tourism’s Activities Guide, which is a complete guide to Porter County.

I also invite you to visit our Visitor Center, located at 1215 N. State Road 49 in Porter. Our friendly, knowledgeable is ready to assist visitors and locals alike.

For more information and programs offered contact the Indiana Dunes Tourism at 219-926-2255.

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About Ken Kosky

All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Chronicle. Ken Kosky is promotions director at Indiana Dunes Tourism, the official tourism agency for Porter County. For more information, call 219-926-2255.